04-4042. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announces the proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by April 26, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Denver, DFAS-DE/POSA, ATTN: Mr. Dan Wagle, 6760 East Irvington Place, Denver CO 80279-3000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the above address, or call Mr. Dan Wagle, 303-676-3372.

Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number: Request for Information Regarding Deceased Debtor, DD Form 2840, OMB Number 0730-0015.

Needs and Uses: This form is used to obtain information on deceased debtors form probate courts. Probate courts review their records to see if an estate was established. They provide the name and address of the executor or lawyer handling the estate. From the information obtained, we submit a claim against the estate for the amount due the United States.

Affected Public: Clerks of Probate Courts.

Annual Burden Hours: 250 hours.

Number of Respondents: 3,000.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

Frequency: When we are notified a debtor is deceased.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

Defense Finance and Accounting Service maintains updated debt accounts and initiates debt collection action for separated military members, out-of-service civilian employees, and other individuals not on an active federal government payroll system. When notice is received that an individual debtor is deceased, an effort is made to ascertain whether the decedent left an estate by contacting clerks of probate courts. If it's determined that an estate was established, attempts are made to collect the debt from the estate. If no estate appears to have been established the debt is written off as uncollectible.

Dated: February 18, 2004.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.